Intrinsically Safe Digital Isolation Certification

Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) today announced the availability of the industry's only certified intrinsically safe (IS) digital isolators based on IEC 60079-11:2011 standards. The 4-channel ADuM144x series digital isolators with iCoupler® technology are suited for designing electrical equipment for use in hazardous areas. When compared to traditional optocouplers, ADI's IS-IS certified digital isolators simplify circuits by reducing required PCB board space along with component cost and design complexity as multiple diodes and resistors are no longer needed.

These IS-IS digital isolators also provide higher data rates for more efficient operation and reduce installation cost over other protection methods. Additionally, the innovative digital isolators are ultra-low power, limiting the amount of energy required to isolate in hazardous areas. ADI’s ADuM144x quad digital isolation devices are available in a small 16-lead QSOP (2.5kV) and 20-lead SSOP (3.75kV) packages.

“ADI understands the operating environment of our products and is fluent in subjects beyond integrated circuit design, such as intrinsic safety and galvanic isolation required for safe operation of electrical equipment in hazardous areas,” said Mark Muldowney, senior principal systems engineer, Honeywell SmartLine. “Analog Devices’ IS certified iCoupler digital isolators are a safe, cost-effective, robust, and easy-to-install method of IS-IS protection.”

Analog Devices’ ADuM144x micropower 4-channel digital isolators based on proven iCoupler® technology have enabled designers to implement isolation in designs without the cost, size, power, performance, and reliability constraints found with optocouplers. With more than 1.8 billion channels shipped, these magnetically isolated products are safe, reliable, and easy to use by combining high speed, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) and monolithic air core transformer technologies.

Operating with supplies as low as 2.25V, ADuM144x digital isolators are ideally suited for applications such as industrial field instruments. The new devices received intrinsically safe certifications from CSA-Sira and IECEx, global providers of testing and certification services. The price for these devices in lots of 1,000 units is $1.98 for 16-lead QSOP (2.5kV) and $2.48 for 20-lead SSOP (3.75kV).